Notebook: Early results promising for Kotsay

ATLANTA - One of the biggest question marks for the Atlanta Braves entering this season was how newly acquired Mark Kotsay would replace the popular Andruw Jones in center field.

The early returns are promising.

After going 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs on Tuesday against San Diego, Kotsay is hitting .301 with three home runs and 14 RBIs. He has been on a hot streak during the homestand.

Since the beginning of last weekend's series with Cincinnati, Kotsay is 7-for-16 with two home runs.

While no one can truly replace Jones' defense in center field, Kotsay has filled in admirably. He isn't as flashy as Jones, but he tracks balls well and has a strong arm.

Since 1998, he has 112 assists, the most in the major leagues.

"Kotsay has been phenomenal," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "Not just his hitting but his fielding, too. It seems like he just kind of glides to the ball."

Kotsay displayed that defensive skill Tuesday, making a brilliant over-the-shoulder catch on a deep fly ball off the bat of Tadahito Iguchi.

His success in Atlanta comes a year after hitting just .214 in an injury-shortened season in Oakland. This year, his health has held up and his play has been everything the Braves could have hoped for.

"Kotsay is one of the most fundamental players I've ever met in my life," Cox told MLB.com. "He's caught every ball that he should have caught and made some (plays) that he shouldn't have made. His arm is so accurate it's unreal."

Braves receive infield help

The Braves acquired some infield help after losing Martin Prado to the disabled list.

Prado sprained his thumb sliding into first base in Saturday's game against Cincinnati. He doesn't need surgery, but he will probably miss six to eight weeks.

To fill the void, the Braves traded cash and a player to be named later to Seattle for infielder Greg Norton. Norton, 35, is a switch hitter that can play numerous positions.

During his career, he has played every infield position and in the outfield. That sort of versatility, both defensively and offensively as a switch hitter, is a welcome addition.

According to Braves general manager Frank Wren, Atlanta had been talking with Seattle for some time to acquire Norton.

"We've been talking with Seattle on and off since the middle of spring training about Greg," Wren told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "We tried to acquire him at the end of spring, but they still had plans for him. He can hit."

Norton made his Braves debut on Tuesday, pinch hitting for Jair Jurrjens in the sixth inning. He grounded out to third base.

Chipper keeps mashing

Chipper Jones continues to lead the majors in hitting, hitting at an otherworldly .426 clip. He has hit safely in 26 out of the 29 games he has played in this season.

He also leads the majors in on-base percentage and slugging percentage. Since the beginning of the 2006 season, Jones has hit .341, the best average in baseball over that span.

On Tuesday, Jones belted his 10th home run of the season, a towering two-run shot to center field in the third inning.